LAUDERHILL – India snatched a narrow win against West Indies by fourwickets chasing 95 runs in the first fixture of their three-match T20International series at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium inFlorida on Saturday.
Navdeep Saini starred on his senior international debut with threeimportant wickets as India limited the West Indies to 95 for nine.
Having already enjoyed success with the Indian “A” team currently on tourof the Caribbean, Saini made an immediate impact wearing his country’scolours at the highest level in claiming three for 17 off his four overs,including top-scorer Kieron Pollard who fell in the final over of theinnings for 49.
He achieved the rarity of a maiden in the final over but it was his earlierdouble-strike which gave the 26-year-old fast bowler the sort of dreamstart he would have wished for after captain Virat Kohli chose to bowlfirst after winning the toss.
Opening bowlers Washington Sundar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar had already set theWest Indies on the back foot by removing openers John Campbell and EvinLewis and Saini added to the Caribbean side’s woes by dismissing attackingleft-handers Nicholas Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer off successive deliveries.
Pooran’s score of 20 was the only other double-figure innings apart fromPollard in what was a generally indisciplined effort from the West Indies.
Kumar supported Saini’s effort with two wickets and indeed all India’sbowlers played key roles in depriving the West Indies’ big-hitters ofopportunities to clear the boundary ropes.
West Indies, who are preparing for the defence of the World T20 title inAustralia in 14 months’ time, welcomed back Pollard and spinner SunilNarine in their line-up.
However injury-prone all-rounder Andre Russell was a late withdrawal fromthe squad and has been replaced by Jason Mohammed, who did not make thefinal 11 for the first of the back-to-back matches this weekend.
India’s inclusion of Saini is with an eye as well on the tournament nextyear.
Saini’s opportunity comes in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who will onlyfeature in the Test leg of this tour while the absence of Hardik Pandya,who is rested from the entire campaign, gave Sundar a chance to impress inthis opening match. – APP/AFP